Friday, April 24, 2015

FOREIGN POLICY ARRIVES (FINALLY) ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

13 days before Britain votes in a General Election, foreign policy appears to have arrived for the first time on the agenda.

Labour leader Ed Miliband is using a major speech to apportion some of the blame for the current migrant crisis in the Mediterranean to Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Miliband insists the failure to plan for post-intervention Libya has contributed directly to events unfolding in the Mediterranean sea.

This marks a significant development in an election campaign which had seen very little discussion of foreign policy up to now. It's also a significant and direct attack on the Prime Minister which is raising temperatures on both sides.

Rosa Prince of the Telegraph has told LBC it's a risky move - listen here.

And Fraser Nelson of the Spectator believes Mr Miliband is playing a dangerous game too.





But Ian Dunt of politics.co.uk believes Mr Miliband is right to suggest Mr Cameron's policies have played a role in the situation off Libya - read his thoughts here.

However, despite the lack of discussion of it on the campaign trail so far - this is actually an election that has a number of interesting potential effects on UK foreign policy.

Dan Whitehead has been exploring that for us, particularly with regards to the Middle East.



Whatever the rights and wrongs, however, of Ed Miliband's views on Libya - as an international news agency reporting for news channels and broadcasters around the world, we're thrilled foreign policy is finally at the centre of this election campaign.

Olly Barratt - UK correspondent

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